Suncreams & Sunbeds

[mats01_99]

Hi all, I'm off on my hols to Italy in 10 days time but need a bit of a base tan before I go. I know you can buy special creams to use whilst using sunbeds, but can you use normal suncreams?

[becks]

No is the striaghtforward answer, the light in sunbeds is different to normal sunlight so you shouldn't use a normal suncream. The creams sold by tanning salons are usually accelerators or help prolong the colour. To be honest i reckon your best bet would be a fake tan treatment, check out local salons to see if they offer anything. Also why do you want to use a sun cream on the sunbed? If the point is to get a base tan you don't need the cream - or if it's because you tend to burn on sunbeds, you really shouldn't use them. Have fun in Italy!

[Little Lady]

You can get pre-sun balms i know No.7 do one and im sure there a few other ranges that do as well. These start to get your melanin in your skin activiating which goes towards giving you a tan. I would stay clear of sunbeds full stop they are worse for you than sitting in the sun, i have never been on one and never will but that is what being a beauty therapist does to you. If you do want to go on the sunbeds i dont actually see any difference in putting suntan lotion on to protect your skin, just use a low factor with uva and uvb protection not just one or the other, sunbeds give out the rays but they are stronger and more direct so i really wouldn't bother and if you knew the dangers you wouldn't anyway.

A good tan that lasts the longest is one where you do not burn, take this from experience, if you keep applying suntan lotion every hour and really protect your skin well and dont burn you will tan safer and have a longer lasting tan, if you burn you skin peels and the tan comes out quicker. UVA are your tanning rays where as UVB are your burning and cancerous rays so make sure you get a full protection suntan lotion. I know it may seem tedious doing this every hour or so but it is well worth the results. Enjoy your hols......

[mats01_99]

Thank you both, sounds like I should stay away from the sunbed. I'll try and make sure I apply every hour when I'm away. One more thing, In recent years I've come out in prickly heat, mainly on the arms, I've been advised that the white Ambre Solaire is good for preventing this. I'm also starting to dose myself up with Piriton in the hope that this may do me some good. Will this make any difference?